Varna is a popular Bulgarian resort that offers its guests a wide range of interesting ways to spend their leisure time. First of all, there is the warm, inviting sea, as well as restaurants, clubs, and much more.
In addition, Varna is a great place to broaden your horizons and learn about the history of ancient civilizations. Thanks to its location, Varna also offers an excellent opportunity to take trips to nearby cities and countries.
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Varna Walking Sightseeing Tour
The tour begins with a visit to the Dormition Cathedral, which opened in 1886. This building is not only a religious landmark, but also a symbol of Varna’s liberation from Ottoman rule.
During the walking tour, tourists can visit the city’s old churches, including the old Church of the Holy Mother of God, which houses a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary believed to help with various ailments. The ruins of the Roman Thermae in Varna’s old Greek quarter will also be included in the tour.
Travelers can also visit the Archaeological Museum, which houses collections of gold artifacts dating back to the 5th millennium BC, as well as ancient statues, Thracian artifacts, and icons.
The route then continues through the Sea Garden, where visitors can stop at the Naval Museum.
The tour ends in the main pedestrian area, where there are plenty of small shops selling souvenirs and other interesting products.
The tours take place daily.
The cost is around 20 euros. Additional expenses for souvenirs and museum tickets are optional.
This is a walking tour, so comfortable shoes are recommended. The route also includes visits to Orthodox churches, so women are advised to bring a scarf to cover their heads.
Varna Through Food
The gastronomic tour invites you to set off in search of the tastiest dishes in the Bulgarian city.
Food in Bulgaria is a kind of sport, and this gastronomic tour offers an overview of the most interesting places to indulge in it. During the walk through Varna, tourists will discover where popular cafés are located, try some of the best street food and traditional local taverns, taste chocolate doughnuts, and enjoy a meal at a beach restaurant, where they will also hear interesting stories and facts about the region.
The tour route passes through Independence Square, Cathedral Boulevard, Shipka Street, and the park.
The aim of the tour is to explore interesting places to eat in Varna. Along the way, however, tourists will also see several historic buildings and learn what makes the city’s archaeological discoveries so fascinating.
At the end of the tour, travelers are offered coffee at one of the city’s best cafés and hot doughnuts in the Sea Garden.
The tour is available by advance booking. Duration: 1.5–2 hours.
Cost: around 30 euros.
Varna Nightlife
It is interesting to see Varna from different sides: sleeping yet lively, historic yet modern, mysterious yet open.
The route follows Maria Luiza Boulevard, Atlantic Solidarity Square, the pedestrian section of Slivnitsa Boulevard, and the park at night. There is a stop at the port, which glows with colorful lights in the evening. The walk then continues along Preslav shopping street and ends at Independence Square.
Tourists will see the ruins of an ancient fort, Greek columns, and a soldiers’ bath while listening to stories about life in the Eastern Roman Empire. The walk also passes the former girls’ gymnasium and men’s college.
In addition, everyone can experience the silence, charm, and coolness of the park at night, admire old buildings illuminated by streetlights, see the mysterious lighthouse, touch the city’s new symbol, and observe the illuminated layer of the Copernicus Observatory while listening to stories about the lives of Varna’s sailors and famous residents.
The tour lasts 3 hours. Cost: 35 euros.
The tour is available by prior arrangement.
Comfortable shoes and a sweater or jacket will be useful, as the walk takes place in the evening.
You can bring a snack and drinks with you. The tour also passes near mineral springs where the water is safe to drink.
The Ancient Soul of Varna
An amazing tour where you can see the ruins of ancient Odessos and learn how people lived 2,500 years ago.
Odessos was a city built by the Greeks in the 6th century BC and is now located beneath the Old Town of Varna at a depth of one meter.
The tour route includes a walk from John Exarch Square to Independence Square via Tsar Simeon I Street.
During the walk, you can see a nymphaeum at an ancient spring, ancient Greek ruins in the basement of a local pub, and the sewage system of Odessos. Other interesting sights include the painted walls of an early Christian basilica, a Bulgarian fort, soldiers’ baths, and ancient pithoi. Throughout the tour, you will hear stories about the occupations, entertainment, and leisure activities of ancient people.
The tour lasts 2–2.5 hours. Cost from 20 euros.
It takes place daily. Comfortable shoes are essential.
The Magic of the Northern Black Sea Coast
The aim of the tour is to explore the most fascinating places in the area around Varna.
The tour includes:
Aladzha Monastery, where you can see monks’ caves carved directly into the sheer rock.
The “White City” of Balchik, situated on limestone cliffs. There you can walk through the botanical garden and the summer residence of Queen Marie of Romania.
Cape Kaliakra, where you can see the ruins of a fortress and ancient settlements, as well as a small chapel. An added bonus is the opportunity to look out over the sea from a height of 60 meters, where dolphins can sometimes be spotted swimming below.
The Yailata Archaeological Reserve, home to a mysterious “cave city” consisting of 101 dwellings, the ruins of an ancient fortress, and rock-cut burial sites.
The village of Tyulenovo, offering wonderful views of the coastal cliffs.
The easternmost point of Bulgaria, Cape Shabla, where an old lighthouse is still in operation.
Farmland and wineries where you can pick fruit and vegetables yourself and make wine.
Dinner at a restaurant serving traditional Bulgarian cuisine (a mussel farm), where you can try local seafood.
The tour lasts 12–13 hours. Cost: from 70 euros. Additional expenses for entrance tickets, souvenirs, and food are optional.
The tour is conducted by minibus daily by prior arrangement. It is canceled in bad weather.
Departure is early, scheduled for 8–9 a.m.
Travel to Turkey from Varna
Istanbul is a city spread across two continents. This excursion offers a chance to immerse yourself in the sophisticated world of Turkey and see the two sides of the country: western and eastern.
Tourists can travel from Varna to Istanbul for 1 or 2 days.
The one-day excursion offers three options for how to spend your time:
- Shopping. Tourists can visit a huge market and plenty of shops. Istanbul offers a wide selection of leather goods and fur coats.
- Classic. The route includes a walk through the city streets, the Blue Mosque, Hippodrome Square, Topkapi Palace, and the Hagia Sophia Museum.
- Water. The trip includes a boat ride along the Bosphorus and dinner at beachside restaurants.
The two-day trip offers a more extensive program.
On the first day, tourists take a bus tour through the heart of the city, after which they can walk around the Blue Mosque, considered the most beautiful building in the city. The next stop is Hippodrome Square, where the ancient Egyptian Obelisk and the elegant Serpent Column stand.
The tour then continues to the Asian part of Turkey. The day ends with a visit to a Turkish bath.
On the second day, the itinerary includes the Kariye church complex and the magnificent Miniaturk model park. This is followed by a boat ride on the Bosphorus, which then leads smoothly into a visit to the Hagia Sophia Museum.
The excursion lasts 1–2 days. Cost: 140 euros (2 days), 100 euros (1 day). Additional expenses for souvenirs and food are optional. The price includes accommodation in three-star hotels with breakfast.
Trips take place daily by advance booking.
The excursions are conducted by bus.
The Mysteries of Romanian Monasteries
An excellent opportunity to discover Romania and explore the country’s interesting places, many of which are surrounded by mystery and legends.
Tourists can travel from Varna to Romania for 2 days or more. The more free time you have, the more interesting the route and the greater the number of places you can see.
The most interesting sights in Romania are its monasteries.
The first stop on the route is Snagov Monastery. This place is surrounded by fascinating legends associated with the disappearance of Dracula. According to local beliefs and legends, there are numerous tunnels and passages beneath the monastery, although it is not known where they lead.
The next stop is Sinaia Monastery. It is also known as the Cathedral of the Carpathians, an Orthodox church in the Southern Carpathians. The complex includes two churches: the Old Church, whose walls are decorated with frescoes, and the New Church, known for an icon of Sergius of Radonezh and an image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Romanian princes and princesses were also baptized at Sinaia Monastery.
The highlight of the excursion is a visit to the famous Bran Castle, one of Romania’s best-known castles, which became world-famous thanks to legends about Dracula.
The journey through Romania ends with a visit to an ancient cave monastery associated with mystical legends and stories. This mysterious place is often called the “Temple of Wishes or the Chosen”, and before leaving, visitors are encouraged to make a wish.
Trips take place daily by advance booking. Cost: from 130 euros. The price includes bus transportation, hotel accommodation, and breakfast. Additional expenses include lunches, dinners, souvenirs, and entrance tickets to castles and museums.
Comfortable shoes are recommended, as well as bank cards or cash to exchange for Romanian currency.
